ARGYLE - Argyle High School Principal Jeff Butts said there's a
lot of enthusiasm on campus about the Eagles' 4 p.m. state
championship football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
today.

The community, too, is abuzz with excitement, he said.

"Just everywhere that you go … it's just a very positive
atmosphere, and they're so proud of what our kids [have]
accomplished so far," he said.

The Argyle Eagles (14-1) will face the Wimberley Texans (14-0)
today in the Class 3A Division II state championship game.

Danita Lanning, an Argyle resident who was visiting the local
post office Thursday, said in "all honesty" she believes the Eagles
will "take" the state title. Her oldest son was a senior on the
varsity squad that played for the 2005 Class 2A championship, and
she said although the team lost, it was exciting. Lanning, who has
followed this year's squad the entire season, said she plans to be
in Arlington today to cheer the team on to victory.

"It's exciting to get to go again," she said.

The team's playoff run has been great for the community, Lanning
said. Rallying around the students always pulls people together,
she said.

"We've just got a great group of kids," she said. "Our community
has been very blessed by our kids because they excel in every area
of the Argyle school district," she said. "I think everyone is
excited because it just shows what a great community we are, and
our kids are so successful."

Residents showed their support for the team with a community pep
rally Thursday.

A team send-off is also slated at about 10:55 a.m. today at the
high school, a district official said.

This is the Eagles' first appearance in the Class 3A Division II
championship game.

In 2005, only four years after the high school's varsity squad
was established, the football team competed for its first state
title in the Class 2A Division I championship game but was defeated
by Newton 28-20.

"This is huge, absolutely huge," Superintendent Telena Wright
said at a Monday board meeting of the team returning to the state
finals. "It's a huge accomplishment, and a very strong commendation
to coach [Todd] Rodgers, the other coaches and the boys.

"It doesn't get any bigger than this."

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address
is btabor@dentonrc.com .

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